Setting up the Napera N24 is a snap. It looks like a typical 24-port Ethernet switch, and if you simply plug it in and turn it on, it behaves as one, too. However, once you configure its NAP services, additional capabilities come alive. Simply connect any computer to the switch and browse to mynapera.com, where you'll find a clean GUI and a simple, straightforward, and even informational . During setup, the capabilities of the switch are clear, including the methods of enforcement, the types of clients it sees on your network, and the general status of the environment.

Unlike Microsoft NAP, Napera allows for the configuration of granular policies based not only on device posture, such as whether anti-virus, antispyware, and firewall are running, but also on identity and port. This is a superset of the NAP policies available in the native Windows Network Policy Service.

The N24 immediately begins reporting the , and any NAP-enabled system is automatically listed with its . Macs can receive similar capabilities with the installation of a Napera-supplied client. Although the reporting is not extensive, it provides a so that you can check into any unexpected issues.

For example, you can quickly tell which users and which operating systems are connected through the switch, how many are in compliance, and how many are out of compliance. The N24 does not, however, provide detailed information on the traffic passing through the switch, so it is not simple to determine a zero-day traffic pattern.